As per reports, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to add Michael Chandler vs Tony Ferguson to the UFC 274 main card.
The blockbuster showdown has been rumoured to be in the works for months now and finally, courtesy of Sports Illustrated, it seems as if it’s all but confirmed to be going down at UFC 274 on May 7.
The main attraction of the event, as of this writing, is the UFC lightweight title clash between Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje that will serve as the headliner at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Alas, when there’s a 155-pound championship bout, we often see a top contender fight not far behind it - with some suggesting this could even be the co-main event.
While some will argue that neither man is at the peak of their powers, there’s no denying the potential fireworks that could be on offer for mixed martial arts fans around the world. Neither individual is known for taking a step back in a fight and if they’re forced into a situation where they need to brawl, these guys are more than happy to oblige.
It’s not exactly going to determine who the next man to challenge for the belt will be, but it might offer up a crossroads moment for Chandler (35) and Ferguson (38) respectively.
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1501705800519086080
Loser leaves town?
The idea of anyone losing their job isn’t a particularly nice one but it’s a reality Michael Chandler or Tony Ferguson may have to face in the days following UFC 274. In their last five combined outings, the former title challengers are 0-5.
Chandler has lost to the aforementioned Oliveira and Gaethje with Ferguson losing to the same men, as well as Beneil Dariush at UFC 262. ‘El Cucuy’ is probably in more immediate danger given his age but ‘Iron’ Mike has taken some serious beatings from ‘The Highlight’ and ‘Do Bronx’.
The land of the lightweights may not be what it once was in the absence of Khabib Nurmagomedov, but a match-up like this just proves how stacked the division is as the countdown to this blockbuster collision begins.